Allergic reactions from electronic devices common

Do you have an unexplained rash? Check your iPad. The popular tablet computer may contain nickel, one of the most common allergy-inducing metals. A new report in the journal Pediatrics says people can experience nickel allergies from a variety of electronic devices. Channel 4's Ashley Mitchem spoke to an allergist about what to look out for.

A HEALTH ALERT. DO YOU HAVE AN UNEXPLAINED RASH? CHECK YOUR iPAD? IT MAY CONTAIN NICKEL, ONE OF THE COMMON ALLERGY INDUCED SYMPTOMS. ASHLEY MITCHUM SPOKE TO AN ALLERGIST ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR. YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T THINK YOU COULD GET AN ALLERGIC REACTION FROM YOUR iPAD, BUT YOU CAN. AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY JUST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. HE HAD AN ITCHY RASH FROM HIS iPAD. IT WAS A NICKEL ALLERGY. CONTACT REACTIONS YOU MIGHT GET FROM EARRINGS, COSTUME JEWELRY, RINGS, NAVAL RINGS, THINGS LIKE THAT, BELT BUCKLES, ARE VERY COMMON. WE SEE THEM FREQUENTLY. THEY CAN BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND REQUIRE TREATMENT WITH STEROIDS AND ANTIBIOTICS. THIS BOY HAD A COMMON SKIN CONDITION THAT CAUSED SCALY PATCHES BUT HE DEVELOPED A DIFFERENT RASH ALL OVER HIS BODY THAT DIDN'T RESPOND TO USUAL TREATMENT. A SKIN TESTING SHOWED HE HAD A NICKEL ALLERGY AND DOCTORS TRADE IT TO AN iPAD. THEY TRACED THE CHEMICAL COMPOUND IN THE OUTSIDE COATING OF THE iPAD. THE REACTION USUALLY OCCURS A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER THE EXPOSURE. YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO IT IN LARGE AMOUNTS AND IT'S MANIFESTED DAYS LATER. 25% OF CHILDREN WHO GET SKIN TESTS FOR ALLERGIES HAVE NICKEL ALLERGIES VERSUS 17% A DECADE AGO. YOU CAN MINIMIZE DIRECT CONTACT WITH YOUR SKIN WITH SOMETHING YOU'RE SENSITIVE TO, YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO REACT. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE BOY GOT BETTER AFTER HE PUT HIS iPAD IN A PROTECTIVE CASE.

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